“What!” I snapped irritably at Zoe as I stalked into the kitchen and grabbing a can of drink from the fridge.
I didn’t mean to be an ass, but I was on edge, likely to snap at any given moment without warning.
“Geez! Pissy much?”
“Sorry.” I shrugged as I sunk onto the barstool.
“Here.”
Zoe handed me a bunch of flowers and a black material bag that weighed a bloody ton. “What the??”
“For tonight.”
“I don’t…”
“I know.”
“Zoe…”
“Shut up, Derek. I know, okay? You have no idea what you’re doing and it’s okay. Give Mia the flowers. Tell her she looks pretty. Try not to stare at her ass all night. And be a gentleman.”
“What?”
She slid an envelope into my hand. I opened it to find two tickets to the open-air cinema in the park.
“Zoe…”
“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. Go pick up Zoe. Give her the flowers. Tell her she looks pretty. You’re going to the Botanical Gardens. They have a giant inflatable cinema set up there. You have tickets. I got you the good seats so you have the double bean bags to relax in instead of just a picnic blanket. In the bag, I packed you some cheese, crackers, dip, grapes, and chocolate. They sell drinks there, so you can get them, and maybe even buy some ice cream. I also threw in a blanket. I know you won’t need to sit on it, but if it gets cold…”
“How’d I get so lucky?” In one motion, I was off the barstool and had Zoe wrapped in my arms.
“What do you mean?”
“To have you in my life. You’re an amazing girl, Zoe.”
“Derek…”
“Thank you for this. For thinking of it. For planning it. I really had no fucking idea what I was going to do.”
“I know.”
She giggled at me. That girl knew how to frustrate the shit out of me and drive me bat shit insane. But I loved her for it. I wouldn’t trade her for the world.
Snuggling her head against my chest, I glanced down at my watch and noticed the time. I had to get going. “Pippi…I gotta go.”
“I know,” she acknowledged but didn’t make any attempt to move. If anything, she just burrowed in closer and I felt her hand scrunch a handful of my shirt. I heard the sniff as her whole body vibrated.
Running my hand down her spine, I didn’t need to look at her to know there were tears. They mightn’t be running down her cheeks but it was only a matter of time. “One day, Zoe, someone will sweep you off your feet again.”
“I know.” She sniffed again, pulling away and wiping her eyes. “I’m okay. And tonight’s about you. Now go. Go make that girl happy. She deserves it.”
“That she does,” I agreed quickly, kissing Zoe on her forehead, grabbing the flowers, tickets, and bag of goodies before heading for the door.
“Derek!” Zoe called out as I yanked open the door.
“Yeah?”
“So, do you, you know?”
I wanted to believe her. I did. I really wanted to, but part of me couldn’t. At least not yet. Instead of lying, of faking some meaningless platitude to make her feel better, I offered her a weak smile before stepping out into the evening, shutting the door behind me.
